Valve gamepad. An alternative to analog sticks?

Valve announced a steam gamepad. Instead of two analog sticks it has two touchpads. I have seen rollerball designs before but had my doubts. This
looks good. However, I am not sure about the button locations. In the middle instead of off to the side.

It looks like it'll feel similar to the "joystick" on tablet and phone games. They lack the positional sensation that an analog joystick has. This
may be a perfectly functional and very nice to use, but just from seeing the images I'm not convinced it'll be something I'd like to use.

kmb08753
Valve announced a steam gamepad. Instead of two analog sticks it has two touchpads. I have seen rollerball designs before but had my doubts. This
looks good. However, I am not sure about the button locations. In the middle instead of off to the side.

I like joysticks myself because they can be as sensitive or insensitive as you want. Touch pad type controls leave out the manual connection that
buttons and joysticks offer. Have you ever tried playing a fast paced action game without raised action buttons? To me they are irritating.

Looks nice, But! It's gonna be real hard to beat the mouse!
I've won many bets in the past when I've argued that keyboard and mouse is better than a controller.
This new device only "approaches" mouse resolution, and it has to do all that within the area of the pad, a mouse has the whole table top to play on

It looks like it'll feel similar to the "joystick" on tablet and phone games. They lack the positional sensation that an analog joystick has. This may
be a perfectly functional and very nice to use, but just from seeing the images I'm not convinced it'll be something I'd like to use.

kmb08753
Valve announced a steam gamepad. Instead of two analog sticks it has two touchpads. I have seen rollerball designs before but had my doubts. This
looks good. However, I am not sure about the button locations. In the middle instead of off to the side.

I like joysticks myself because they can be as sensitive or insensitive as you want. Touch pad type controls leave out the manual connection that
buttons and joysticks offer. Have you ever tried playing a fast paced action game without raised action buttons? To me they are irritating.

I would like to try it. It's true that sticks offer good response and immersion. I remember picking up Skate for the first time after being a Tony
Hawk player. The stick control felt more natural than button combos. Made the series.

VoidHawk
Looks nice, But! It's gonna be real hard to beat the mouse!
I've won many bets in the past when I've argued that keyboard and mouse is better than a controller.
This new device only "approaches" mouse resolution, and it has to do all that within the area of the pad, a mouse has the whole table top to play on

Indeeeedly doodly!

I can see perhaps them making games, like with consoles, that work with this contraption.

But the mouse is always going to be the precision controller of a real gamer. Gimmicks may appeal to cyborgs. but not us humans.

and keys.. KEYS I tell you. KEYS that react. None of this glass representation funk. Save that for electronic paper when they introduce it. Hell, they
better have that nano-carbon-funky gunk that gives a touchscreen device texture by time they really let it all loose.

VoidHawk
Looks nice, But! It's gonna be real hard to beat the mouse!
I've won many bets in the past when I've argued that keyboard and mouse is better than a controller.
This new device only "approaches" mouse resolution, and it has to do all that within the area of the pad, a mouse has the whole table top to play on

Indeeeedly doodly!

I can see perhaps them making games, like with consoles, that work with this contraption.

But the mouse is always going to be the precision controller of a real gamer. Gimmicks may appeal to cyborgs. but not us humans.

and keys.. KEYS I tell you. KEYS that react. None of this glass representation funk. Save that for electronic paper when they introduce it. Hell, they
better have that nano-carbon-funky gunk that gives a touchscreen device texture by time they really let it all loose.

my fingers are made to feel things. Or I'd use spaghetti.

For someone so dry and cynical as you tend to be, it surprised me when I read "touchscreen device texture".
What a brilliant idea!
That would get the porn sites buzzing again LOL

VoidHawk
Looks nice, But! It's gonna be real hard to beat the mouse!
I've won many bets in the past when I've argued that keyboard and mouse is better than a controller.
This new device only "approaches" mouse resolution, and it has to do all that within the area of the pad, a mouse has the whole table top to play on

Indeeeedly doodly!

I can see perhaps them making games, like with consoles, that work with this contraption.

But the mouse is always going to be the precision controller of a real gamer. Gimmicks may appeal to cyborgs. but not us humans.

and keys.. KEYS I tell you. KEYS that react. None of this glass representation funk. Save that for electronic paper when they introduce it. Hell, they
better have that nano-carbon-funky gunk that gives a touchscreen device texture by time they really let it all loose.

my fingers are made to feel things. Or I'd use spaghetti.

For someone so dry and cynical as you tend to be, it surprised me when I read "touchscreen device texture".
What a brilliant idea!
That would get the porn sites buzzing again LOL

Touchscreen texture. Not such a far fetched idea. Senseg has been developing exactly that. They use a small electric pulse that attracts your finger.
Varying the charge changes the "feel".

It was a rumor to be included with the iPad 3, which obviously didn't happen. I have read it described as being able to feel stone or wood surfaces
or keys on a keyboard.

Here is a link to Senseg's site. They have a bunch of info about it there.

VoidHawk
Looks nice, But! It's gonna be real hard to beat the mouse!
I've won many bets in the past when I've argued that keyboard and mouse is better than a controller.
This new device only "approaches" mouse resolution, and it has to do all that within the area of the pad, a mouse has the whole table top to play on

Indeeeedly doodly!

I can see perhaps them making games, like with consoles, that work with this contraption.

But the mouse is always going to be the precision controller of a real gamer. Gimmicks may appeal to cyborgs. but not us humans.

and keys.. KEYS I tell you. KEYS that react. None of this glass representation funk. Save that for electronic paper when they introduce it. Hell, they
better have that nano-carbon-funky gunk that gives a touchscreen device texture by time they really let it all loose.

my fingers are made to feel things. Or I'd use spaghetti.

For someone so dry and cynical as you tend to be, it surprised me when I read "touchscreen device texture".
What a brilliant idea!
That would get the porn sites buzzing again LOL

Touchscreen texture. Not such a far fetched idea. Senseg has been developing exactly that. They use a small electric pulse that attracts your finger.
Varying the charge changes the "feel".

It was a rumor to be included with the iPad 3, which obviously didn't happen. I have read it described as being able to feel stone or wood surfaces
or keys on a keyboard.

Here is a link to Senseg's site. They have a bunch of info about it there.

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